13 MORE THAN A GAME (2)

"Where are you?"

"At the office." Kang Sola checked the time from the clock on the wall. It's a quarter before five in the afternoon. "I'm still working."

Xue Guangxi's tone at the other end of the phone had dark traces on it, laced with exasperation, impatience, and frustration.

"What happened to you?" Kang Sola could tell right away that he's not in such a good mood. She instinctively lowered her voice, cupped her one hand over the phone, and drew a distance from the group of people she's huddled with.

Her mind was full of gigantic question marks swimming inside her brain.

"We'll talk later. I'm in front of your office. Let's grab some noodles later. I'll wait for you." He recited as he pinched that area between his knitted brows, and hung up.

Kang Sola was met with the toot-toot of the deadline. She pressed her lips in a line. 'What is it this time?'

Even in their younger days, Xue Guangxi would frequently have his bad days when he would feel his emotional baggage swell up more than its threshold. During those times, she would accompany him as quietly as possible until his cool returns to him.

She bet this instance was no different.

---

Exhaling sharply, Xue Guangxi leaned back on his leather-covered car seat. He took several more deep breaths to calm his nerves.

The only thing he shouldn't allow himself to be in right now was to be alone. Unfortunately enough, that's where he was alone inside his car, waiting in silence for Kang Sola to emerge from the building's foyer.

He turned the radio on. Some random pop music he had not heard before resonated inside his car.

It served as his temporary solace.

He sent a message to Kang Sola before revving his car, "I'll be right back."

Half an hour later, his car was parked at the same spot in front of Kang Sola's building. He was inside his car, but this time, he wasn't alone. The car was ruled over by childish noises and squeaks.

He had picked up the twins from the Chen dream house.

They exchanged tales of the day's happenings. The twins unfolded how they painted with watercolors in class. Each went on details on each of the masterpieces.

"Looks like you inherited more of your mother's side, hmmm…" Xue Guangxi massaged his chin.

"Really, Uncle?" Chen Lingtian, the little boy asked with wide eyes. He popped his head from the back seat to just behind Xue Guangxi by the driver's seat.

"How can you say so?" Chen Lihua felt her curiosity and got thrilled by the statement. Her huge smile and cute dimples lightened her already angelic face. She joined her brother and the two surrounded the young man inside the car.

"Your mother used to paint when she was a girl. Hmm, let's see. I think some of her artworks are still at the Xue Mansion." He massaged his chin even more. His lips parted into a grin.

"Wow!"

"Woah!"

Their adorable grins grew even more pronounced. Their eyes danced, mesmerized by new information about their biological mother. They exchanged excited glances and more giggles and squeaks with each other.

The kids could certainly appease whatever negativity he had originally.

*Knock* *Knock*

Leaning forward, Kang Sola informed them of her presence through knocking on the passenger door lightly. "Sorry, did you wait long?" She said as she settled in and buckled up. "Oh hi there! You're here too!"

"Aunty! How is your day?" Chen Lingtian inquired.

"Aunty, I miss you." Chen Lihua threw a bear hug around Kang Sola's neck on the passenger seat.

"I miss you too! I miss you both! Hehehe!!!" She retorted. She was more than pleased to see the kids inside Guangxi's car. She turned to Xue Guangxi, "Is that why you left a while ago?"

He nodded, a smile forming on his mouth. He operated the car expertly and drove away. "You didn't tell me you miss me when I picked you up earlier." Pouting, he whined to the little girl.

The little girl only laughed and giggled some more, and to make up with her favorite uncle, she added, "I miss you too, Uncle. Hihihihih!!!" Her chubby little paw covered her tiny giggling mouth.

"That's my girl!" He threw a swift acknowledging glance to the girl at the back seat through the rearview mirror. "How about you Xiao Lingtian?"

"Same, uncle."

"That's my boy! Alright!" His voice rose with newfound happiness.

"You seem… cheerful. Are you alright now? What happened?"

Suddenly, Xue Guangxi's cheerful already dissipated as if it was sucked into a vacuum. The temperature around him seemed to drop a few degrees.

*Achooo*

Kang Sola sneezed inside her elbow's crease. "Sorry, sorry! Excuse me! Suddenly, I got chills. Nnnn." Then, she shuddered as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms repeatedly in an attempt to warm them.

The young man reached for the air conditioning system's knob with one and adjusted the temperature. His other hand remained on the steering wheel. "Are you sick? Should we just go home?"

"No, no. I'm fine. Let's eat something warm. Let's go grab some noodles. I'm starving." She threw a reassuring smile in his direction.

Face laced with worry, he fell silent at first. "You sure, huh?" When the lady nodded, he added, "Okay, but let's stop at the pharmacy later."

"Okay."

In the Japanese restaurant, they ordered two bowls of udon, two pieces of onigiri for the twins, tempura, katsu, and some sushi.

While waiting for their order, Xue Guangxi excused himself for the comfort room.

When he returned, his already cleared up face turned sour as he set his eyes onto their table.

Two teenage boys of around eighteen years were talking to Kang Sola.

"We're your fans, uhm, Noona."

"Oh, Koreans?" Impressed, she raised one brow. She was half-Korean by lineage.

"Yes. We follow your channel! We almost finished watching your vlogs. Some I even repeated several times. I tried some of your DIY's too. They're awesome – life-changing!"

Kang Sola folded her arms on the table. "Glad it serves its purpose and came in handy for other people to use."

"You're awesome, Noona!"

"Hehehe." Humbly, she shrugged it off, "You flatter me, guys. I still have plenty to improve. But thanks!"

The two teenagers asked for a photo with her. "Sure, sure!"

Eyes sparkling with delight, they stood behind Kang Sola who remained seated, then took selfies. They took several photos with her.

Xue Guangxi had returned from his short trip from the comfort room yet Kang Sola or the twins did not notice. He stood by his table while watching the mini scene unfold in front of him. His brows were knitted together.

"What was that about?" He started when the two boys left. Even if he wanted to throw a fit as soon as he got there, he controlled himself for two reasons. First, he did not want his behavior to impact Kang Sola's image negatively, and second, he did not want the twins to see his bad side as a grown man throwing tantrums, and at a public place at that.

"You're having fun, aren't you?" He attacked Kang Sola non-stop even if the young lady had not answered his first question yet. He seated himself across the lady beside Chen Lihua. The young boy occupied the seat on Kang Sola's right side.